Capt. Paul C. LaMarre III
Port Director, Port of Monroe
President, American Great Lakes Ports Association
Capt. Paul C. LaMarre III is a maritime leader whose career reflects operational authority, policy expertise, and a sustained commitment to national service. A former naval aviator and licensed master, he brings both technical fluency and strategic clarity to the advancement of U.S. maritime logistics and inland waterway development.
He is a graduate of the California Maritime Academy with a Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation and minors in logistics and naval science. Capt. LaMarre holds a U.S. Coast Guard Master of Towing Vessels (Unlimited) license and remains active aboard Great Lakes towing vessels. His continued time on the water keeps him closely connected to the realities of vessel operations, cargo movement, and the responsibilities of command.
Earlier in his career, Capt. LaMarre flew the F/A-18 Hornet as a U.S. Navy pilot. The training and discipline of carrier aviation shaped a leadership style grounded in precision, mission focus, and operational accountability. These attributes remain evident in his approach to port strategy, interagency coordination, and infrastructure delivery.
Since 2012, Capt. LaMarre has served as Port Director of the Port of Monroe, Michigan. Under his leadership, the Port has secured tens of millions of dollars in federal and state investment, executed long-term cargo development agreements, and completed complex environmental permitting. He has positioned the Port as a national leader in inland wind energy logistics and the reuse of coal combustion residuals. His success in translating regional assets into national value has made Monroe a model for how smaller U.S. ports can advance economic and environmental goals.
Capt. LaMarre serves as President of the American Great Lakes Ports Association. Elected by his peers, he represents all U.S. Great Lakes ports in policy and regulatory discussions with Congress, the Department of Transportation, and other federal agencies. His work supports competitive access to inland markets, efficient multimodal infrastructure, and stable long-term investment in the maritime sector.
He was appointed by the Secretary of Homeland Security to the U.S. Coast Guard’s Great Lakes Pilotage Advisory Committee. In that role, he helps shape pilotage policy across the U.S.-Canadian Seaway, a 2,300-mile maritime corridor that connects North America’s industrial heartland to global markets. The Seaway supports more than thirty-five billion dollars in annual commerce and remains vital to the nation’s economic security and supply chain resilience.
Capt. LaMarre has also contributed to national maritime policy through his service on the USDOT National Freight Advisory Committee, the Port Performance Freight Statistics WorkingGroup, and the Marine Transportation System National Advisory Committee. In Michigan, he chairs the Governor’s Port Authority Advisory Committee and serves as a maritime advisor to the state’s Commission for Logistics and Supply Chain Collaboration.
His career includes senior-level roles in cargo development, vessel operations, and shipyard management. This diversity of experience enables him to evaluate complex infrastructure projects through a combined lens of operational integrity, commercial realism, and public-sector accountability.
He also directed the founding and development of the National Museum of the Great Lakes, leading the restoration of multiple historic vessels and securing more than fifteen million dollars in capital funding to preserve and promote the region’s working maritime heritage.
Most recently, Capt. LaMarre is leading the successful delivery of the first SAFE Port Act–compliant international container terminal in the history of the Great Lakes. This ten-year effort required sustained coordination across multiple federal agencies, complex regulatory environments, and competing political interests. Its completion is a landmark for the region, demonstrating that inland ports can meet the highest standards of maritime security and global logistics performance.
His motivation remains clear. He believes that a strong maritime sector is crucial to national security, economic independence, and the resilience of the transportation system. He is committed to ensuring that the United States remains a maritime nation, not just in policy but in practice. Through every role he has held, he continues to champion the enduring values of seafaring – discipline, honor, and a readiness to serve.
Contact Information
Port of Monroe, 10 Port Avenue, Monroe, MI 48161
Cell: 734-625-3128
Email: plamarre@portofmonroe.com